He had one of the greatest minds in his field. He had forgotten more on this subject than most of these students would ever know. His tests were legendary. This was a required class. Unfortunately, second hour Monday morning is not when your average college student is at their best. Through bleary eyes they had a hard time recognizing the privilege they had to absorb some of his knowledge, to listen to his insights. His lesson rolled over their glassy stares. A few quietly played games or scrolled X or Instagram, at least they were awake, they reasoned. Some by sheer force of will kept their pens moving, or their fingers typing. You never knew what was going to be on the test, so they pumped caffeine into their bodies to stay alert. They needed to stay fully awake to catch every detail.
This is an awfully big book. Much of it isn't edge of your seat action. If we don't read with care, the words can go over our heads. If we don't focus, the words can roll over us, our eyes see them but we don't really take them to heart. We call this God's Word. The Bible has been the most important book in the world for almost 2000 years, 3000 if you consider the books of Moses and the Psalms. Everyone knows it must contain some important things. Even unbelievers will pick one up hoping they can find something to use. But sometimes, sometimes it can be hard to know what's important, what really matters, what's going to make a difference, what's on the test? Where do we start? Do we just plow through by force of will? Would a cliff notes version be good enough? What are we supposed to do when some of even the big events leave us scratching our heads, wondering what that means; what does it mean for me and my life?
The disciples shared this struggle. At two of the most pivotal moments in his ministry, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him so that they could be his witnesses. They struggled to keep their eyes open. Jesus has patience with them. Jesus has patience with you. Today, he shows us a moment to stir our imaginations and curiosity. The glimmering glory, the visit, the cloud, the voice, they demand that you Wake Up Fully to Christ's glory, the glory Moses and the Prophets proclaimed, so that when he speaks, you listen.
The disciples had a lot on their minds. The soaring popularity of Jesus brought great opposition. Everyone was talking about their teacher, not all of it good. They felt the pressure. Then Jesus started saying some strange things, betrayal, suffering, death, rise on the third day. What did it mean? Peter still heard Jesus' harsh rebuke ringing in his ears, Get behind me, Satan. Peter, James, and John had many things on their minds as Jesus took them aside with him, up onto a secluded mountain to pray.
The night wore on. They didn't share their rabbi's stamina for prayer. The disciples lack such endurance. Like happens to many of us, their minds began to wander; their eyelids grew heavy. Their heads began to nod. Jesus kept praying; they entered that strange state between waking and sleeping, at the same time aware of what was happening and unable to fully engage reality.
This happens to us all the time. In those predawn hours, your body starts to come out of sleep but you can't quite shake off the slumber. Then the phone rings and a groggy "hello," turns into a wide awake, "what?" A crash forces you to investigate. The sudden realization that that giggle and those pitter-pattering steps aren't in your dreams and they aren't coming from the baby monitor, gets you moving in an instant. Once the fog is broken, we can be fully alert
This is what Luke describes. Jesus changes. His face shines with glory. His clothes are gleaming white. He shines with light all his own. Two men are just there, Moses and Elijah. They are having a conversation with Jesus. The fog lifted. No they aren't dreaming. Yes, this is happening. They rubbed their eyes and their hearts began pounding. They went from being weighed down with sleep to fully awake and hyper aware.
Moses and Elijah shared in Jesus' glory. Luke is the only gospel writer to tell us the content of the conversation. They...were talking about his exodus, which he was going to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem.
Luke's word choices bring to mind all of that Old Testament history. Israel had been slaves in Egypt, until God came down to intervene with power. He led them out. He sustained them in the wilderness. He gave them a land of their own.
In Elijah's day, the people were being torn in two directions. They were constantly being drawn to idols. Their leaders were completely corrupt. Then God came down to intervene. Elijah's sacrifice was consumed. Baal's prophets were put to the sword.
God's people rarely found peace. When they did, soon they lost it once more. Evil continued to endure. Slavery has never been eradicated. That evil still remains in parts of our world. Idols continue to arise and lead people astray. Corrupt governments spread their influence. For all of Old Testament history, these problems continue on earth.
Like all Israelites Peter, James, and John had been raised hearing about the lives of Moses and Elijah. They longed for the day God would show that power again. This hope had drawn them to Jesus. They didn't quite understand, but Jesus woke them up so he could show them. They were about to witness the fulfillment of everything that came before.
This glorious Lord had set aside this glory to come to earth; he would set it aside again. He would go down the mountain and set his face to Jerusalem. There he would be treated worse than a slave. He would become the lowest of the low. He would bear the heavy cost of all sin. The chains of death would wrap around his neck, while corrupt leaders and a weak and ineffective governor, would nail him to the tree. All evil would be hurled on him until he drank that cup the fullest, he would breathe his last, as he left this life and entered the bonds of the grave. But as Egypt could not keep God's children, the grave would not hold him. He would come out. He would rise in glory, and ascend to the right hand of God to establish his kingdom, the kingdom of justice and righteousness which would last forever. Everything Moses set out to do, all Elijah hoped to see. Whatever heart longs to experience, this Jesus would do. Wake up to see the glory of the one who comes to save you.
As the conversation came to a close, Peter didn't want it to end. He spoke up, Master, it is good for us to be here, thank you for this opportunity, we will build three shelters. This can be the start of your glorious reign. Later Peter, confided in Mark and Luke, he didn't know what he was saying. He was so terrified he was just babbling like a fool. All he knew was the wonder overwhelming his heart.
But before Jesus could respond, A cloud came and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they went into the cloud. No one had to tell them what was happening. They knew. This was the cloud of God's glory, like on Sinai, like in the temple, like Isaiah saw, they were terrified. A voice came out of the cloud saying, this is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him! As suddenly as this had all started it was over. After the voice had spoken, they found Jesus alone. They went down the mountain and wondered what this all means.
We are a people who like credentials. It can be a diploma on the wall, years of experience, or an important endorsement. With so many people saying so many questionable things, we need some way to decide who to trust, we want the credentials.
People often quote the Bible. Sometimes different people will quote the Bible to support whatever idea they have decided needs to be bolstered, whether the Bible is really saying that or not. So we might think we don't need to consider its credentials. The Bible tells me so and that's all I want to know. Then we are flumoxed when others don't accept our word from this important book.
Even more dangerously, we might not remember the credentials ourselves. Challenges to the Word sound so reasonable. The Devil knows how to exploit any little doubt. How can you really know. All this seems a little far fetched, unscientific, foolish. Human reason gets put above the clear words, because if something doesn't make sense, or if its hard to believe, then why do I need to hold on to that Word. We pick and choose what verses have real authority. In a moment of crisis, in the midst of doubts, when you really need a firm foundation, forgetting the credentials of God's Word is a devasting mistake.
This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him. That is a strong credential. God the Father has approved of everything Jesus had ever done. He approves of everything Jesus has said and would say. Peter would recall, we are witnesses of his majesty. John would wonder, we have seen his glory. If this glory, this sign were not enough, God proved this for all to see, by raising him from the dead. Here on the mount of transfiguration, again on Calvary and the empty tomb, God gave Jesus the highest credential.
And Jesus gives all Scripture his approval. He speaks of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jonah as real people and the amazing deeds as facts. He quotes extensively from Isaiah and the prophets, one cannot deny the Words, the history and the promises of the Old Testament without denying Christ. Jesus promises his disciples he would send them the Holy Spirit so that they would remember all these things and give them the courage to share them. At the end of John's life, in his vision of what would be, Jesùs spoke the warning and promise so that no one would add or subtract from his Words.
What comfort you have in these words, This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him. These words are God's own personal stamp of approval on every promise Jesus has ever spoken, Come...I will give you rest. I am going to prepare a place for you...I will come back so that you may be where I am. Take heart, your sins are forgiven. In every challenge, in every moment of crisis, when doubt comes near to your heart, on this you can depend. God's promises never change. His Word is true. His compassion will never fail you.
My friends, all of God's Word is true. All God has spoken is for your good, but you do not listen with fear or with despair. There is no test. God isn't going to ask you to name the twelve sons of Jacob in order, or to be able to name the shepherd of Tekoa, or to recite Romans from memory. No, all these things, everything God had done in the past, everything Moses and the prophets proclaimed, everything the New Testament record, they all exist to point you to Jesus, so that you can see his glory, the glory of the one who has come to save you. May the Holy Spirit wake our hearts to see him go to Jerusalem for us and for our salvation. It is good for us to be here, here with God's beloved Son. May we listen to him with confidence. Now and forever. Amen.